Kenya Introduces New ACT as Recommended Malaria Treatment

The government of Kenya on Wednesday introduced a new artemisinin-based combination therapy for the treatment of malaria in the country, Xinhuanet reports. The drug -- called Duo-Cotecxin and manufactured by China-based Holley-Cotec -- is a significant development in the field of ACTs, according to Holley-Cotec Senior Vice President Claude Faurant. Speaking at the launching ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya, Faurant said the drug is a combination of an artemisinin derivative called dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine (Xinhuanet, 3/22). Duo-Cotecxin is the second fixed-dose ACT to be introduced in Kenya, and its availability might lower malaria drug costs in the country. Kenya about two years ago changed its policy to make Novartis' ACT Coartem its first-line malaria treatment -- a move that increased the price of malaria treatment from less than about $1.40 for older drugs like fansidar to about $8.30 per dose. Duo-Cotecxin, taken in eight doses over three days, will be sold for about $6.60 in Kenya, according to the Daily Nation (Gathura, Daily Nation, 3/23).